Former WWE Tag Champion Gzim Selmani is stepping into the bare-knuckle boxing ring with the BKFC. But here's where it gets interesting: despite his decade-long career in wrestling, Selmani is taking a different path. He's choosing to compete in bare-knuckle boxing, a sport he believes is a perfect fit for his skills and background.
Selmani's journey began in MMA, where he made his debut at just 19 years old. After a successful run in Bellator, he transitioned into professional wrestling, becoming a two-time champion with WWE. However, his time in the ring wasn't without challenges, as he faced minor injuries and eventually got released from WWE in early 2025. It was during this transition period that Selmani made a bold decision.
"I was thinking if I wanted to continue wrestling or not," Selmani told MMA Fighting. "I took a break, healed from some minor injuries, and then I got back with an old friend, Shane Watson, who's a boxing manager in the UK. We discussed some options, and that's when the idea of BKFC came up."
Selmani's decision to join BKFC is not without controversy. He had offers from promotions like Misfits Boxing, which cater to the influencer and celebrity boxing scene. But Selmani, who has a 4-2 professional MMA record and faced UFC heavyweight Ante Delija in 2013, is not interested in that path. He wants to compete against the best, and he believes BKFC is the right choice.
"There were some boxing options against celebrities, but it's not the route I wanted to go," Selmani explained. "I'm still young, 31 years old, with a nine-year WWE career behind me. I fought in Bellator at 19, the youngest heavyweight there. I want to compete against the best, and I think BKFC is the right choice."
Selmani's most notable MMA win came in 2014 when he submitted UFC veteran Oli Thompson in just 18 seconds for the BAMMA promotion. Despite being out of combat sports for over a decade, Selmani is eerily calm about his upcoming bare-knuckle fight. His years of training with high-level fighters have prepared him for the challenge.
"I come from Team Golden Glory," Selmani said. "We spar two times a week with MMA gloves, three or four ounces, and we spar hard. We knock guys out regularly. So I let my teammates hit me with MMA gloves when we spar."
Selmani's confidence in his abilities is evident. He believes that his fists, even without gloves, are deadly. "If I drop guys with 16-ounce gloves, I'll break their face with no gloves, guaranteed," he said. "A lot of people underestimate fists. These are knives. If you know how to fight, like me, these are murder weapons."
Selmani's decision to join BKFC is a bold move, and it will be interesting to see how his career unfolds in this new chapter. Will he dominate the bare-knuckle boxing scene? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: Gzim Selmani is ready for the challenge.
